May Wrap Up…

Welcome to my May Wrap Up. I didn’t have a great reading month, finishing 2 books (1 book off my TBR). I also received 5 ARCs this month. I fell ill during the middle of the month and got no reading done for almost two weeks.

I have reviews up or coming up for these books so as usual this is just going to be a brief rundown on each book I read.

Without further ado, let’s get into my May Wrap Up:

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer: This book was fantastic. I am a massive fan of Kelly Rimmer so I went into this book with high hopes and it turns out I was right to do so. Everything about this book was impressive; the plot, the characters, and especially the writing. I was captivated from the very first page until the very last. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. Now I just have to wait to get my hands on Kelly Rimmer’s next masterpiece.

Be The Love by Sarah Prout: This was an interesting and easy read. Filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming memories as well as ways in which you can learn to be a better version of yourself, this book really surprised me. I am very glad that I decided to read this book but I will say that if you don’t believe in manifestation or anything spiritual this book is not for you. If you do believe or are at least open to the idea of manifestation then this book is well worth the read.

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That’s it for my May Wrap Up. I hope you all had a great reading month. Let me know what you guys read this month in the comments section.

Until my June Wrap Up…

Happy Reading…

~>GEM<~

Be The Love by Sarah Prout

‘Emotional empowerment expert Sarah Prout shares how to Be the Love you wish to feel, and how to do it by embracing lessons such as overcoming comparison traps, finding freedom in forgiveness, and accepting that making choices is how life happens, but living with your choices is how growth happens. These lessons are illustrated by Prout’s own raw, personal stories that range from humorous to harrowing.

By following the seven pieces of advice and trying them out in your own life, you will create radical and magical inner transformation, and inner transformation will lead to outer results—whether that’s within your career, relationships, or something as simple as your own self-confidence as you walk down the street. If you live your life with self-love and self-compassion as your North Star, then you will thrive.’

This was an interesting read.

I will start this off by saying if you don’t believe in manifestation and spirituality then this book is not for you.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book but I ended up enjoying it. I liked that Sarah Prout delved into her own experience; whether the good or the bad, in order to show what she has learned and how she has grown through these events.

Sarah Prout did a great job with the writing of this book. It was clear and easy to follow, and the layout and pacing were both great. I also really enjoyed that she included exercises and questions at the end of each chapter that allowed you to explore what you had read in terms of your own life and experiences.

If you already believe in manifestation or are interested in learning more about it then you should definitely consider picking this book up.

Be The Love by Sarah Prout is a quick and easy read.

Uni Update 25!

It’s that time again…

Uni Update!

This past month of Uni has been chaotic. I had two very large and important Assessments due just over a week apart which was more than a little stressful. After a lot of late nights and early mornings, I managed to get both of them completed and submitted on time. Now I just need to wait for my results to come in.

Unfortunately right after I finished these Assessments I came down with the flu, I guess I’m lucky it happened after not before. Anyway, I was in bed for a week unable to do anything, so now I will be spending the next few weeks catching up on a week’s worth of work from each of my units while starting to plan for my final Assessments.

If I thought last month was chaotic, I can only imagine what this next month is going to bring. All I can do is keep plotting along and trying to keep to my study schedule; which has now been extended to make up for the work I missed while sick. Hopefully, I can keep my head above water and catch up without too much trouble. That’s what I am hoping at least.

Well, that is all from me today. I will catch you all in my next Uni Update.

Until then…

Happy Reading!

~>GEM<~

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

‘Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be.

To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world—all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way—unexpectedly.’

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This was one of those books that had a slow build but once it got going I couldn’t put it down. I loved the cinematic quality of the writing and the fact that it was so real and personal that you felt like you were right there living all the ups and downs instead of just reading about them.

One of my favourite thing about this book was the detail. As it was taking place in destinations I haven’t been to I loved that Elizabeth Gilbert really painted a picture of both the surroundings and experiences. This added a visual layer to an emotional and spiritual journey.

Elizabeth Gilbert has done a fantastic job with the writing in this book. It was well-paced, descriptive, emotional, and utterly captivating. I am so glad that I decided to pick this book up.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert will leave you wanting more.

Winter Is Coming Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in the Winter Is Coming Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, let’s jump straight in:

SNOW: IT IS BEAUTIFUL WHEN IT FIRST FALLS, BUT THEN IT STARTS TO MELT.

A BOOK AND A BOOK SERIES THAT YOU LOVED AT THE BEGINNING, BUT THEN, IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, YOU REALIZED YOU DON’T LIKE IT ANY LONGER.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee & The Selection series by Kiera Cass

SNOWFLAKE: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND ALWAYS DIFFERENT.

CHOOSE A BOOK THAT STANDS OUT, AND THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER BOOKS YOU’VE READ.

The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

SNOWMAN: IT IS ALWAYS FUN TO MAKE ONE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

CHOOSE A BOOK THAT A WHOLE FAMILY COULD READ.

The Christmas Spirit is Born by Perry Johnson

SNOW BOWLING: IT CAN BE PAINFUL TO BE HIT BY A SNOWBALL.

CHOOSE A BOOK THAT HURT, THAT MADE YOU FEEL SOME STRONG EMOTION LIKE SADNESS OR ANGER.

Holding the Man by Timothy Conigrave

SLEDDING: WE ALL LOVED IT WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.

CHOOSE A BOOK THAT YOU LOVED WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

FROSTBITE: CHOOSE A BOOK THAT YOU WERE REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN.

Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers

REINDEER: SOMETHING THAT IS DEAR TO YOU.

CHOOSE A BOOK THAT IS OF GREAT SENTIMENTAL VALUE TO YOU.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

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Well, that’s it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual, hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading… 

~>GEM<~

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

‘When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love but also their lives.’

I loved this book.

As a fan of Nicholas Sparks, I knew going into this book that I was going to love it, and after finishing it I am happy to say that The Lucky One is easily one of my favourite Nicholas Sparks novels.

I have come to expect emotionally and at times dramatic plotlines in Nicholas Sparks novels, and this one was no different. The story was captivating while still having a beautiful love story. I was drawn in for the very first page and I didn’t want it to end.

One of the best things about this book was the characters. I loved the way Nicholas Sparks wrote the characters in this book. There were three-dimensional and flawed, yet that made you fall in love with them even more.

Nicholas Sparks has done a fantastic job with the writing in this book. The lyrical quality of his writing wrapped around me and made me want to crawl into this book. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book.

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Pointless Facts 26!

As I am really enjoying compiling Pointless Facts, I am going to stick with my plan of posting a new list every month; at least until it stops being fun for me. So I hope you all enjoy this month’s installment of Pointless Facts.

Let’s jump in, shall we?

You can’t tickle yourself.

You can’t lick your elbow.

Astronauts can grow up to two inches taller while they’re in space.

A concert promoter once sold a thousand tickets to a Spice Girls concert in Hawaii that was never actually booked.

A woodpecker’s tongue actually wraps all the way around its brain, protecting it from damage when it’s hammering into a tree.

Hippos and horses are actually distant relatives.

Despite taking about three hours to play out, the average baseball game only has about 18 minutes of active playing time.

In Russia, beer was considered a soft drink, not alcohol, until 2011.

Strawberries are not berries, but Bananas are.

Guide dogs do their “business” on command to make things easier for their owners.

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I hope you all enjoyed today’s pointless facts. Let me know in the comments if these pointless facts were new to you or if you had already come across them.

~>GEM<~

Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different by Ben Brooks

‘Bjork, Dr. Seuss, Whoopi Goldberg, Andy Warhol, Ellen MacArthur, Greta Gerwig, Andrea Bocelli, Hua Mulan … these are men and women who all dared to be different.

Boys will be boys and girls will be girls – or so the meaningless saying goes. Because what if you’re a girl and you like cage fighting? Or you’re a boy and you love ballet? And what if you’ve always dreamed of being a scientist but you can’t see anyone who looks or sounds like you, and who has left a legacy – in the form of microscopes and Bunsen burners – for you to follow?

These are the extraordinary stories of 100 famous and not-so-famous men and women, every single one of them an inspiring pioneer and creative genius in their own way, who broke the mold and made their dreams come true.

This is the book for children who want to know about the lives of those heroes who have led the way, changing the world for the better as they go.’

The book was fabulous.

I was so excited to dive into this book and I am happy to say it lived up to my high expectations.

I loved that even though this book is aimed at a much young audience than me, there were so many people featured in this book that I had never heard of and even when it comes to the people that I had heard of there was so much new information that there wasn’t a page that I didn’t find interesting or exciting.

Ben Brooks did a great job with not only the information in this book but the writing as well. It was both easy to follow and thoroughly entertaining. I can easily see this book being a fast favourite with young readers and their families.

Adding to Ben Brooks’ wonderful writing were the stunning Illustrations by Quinton Winter. These illustrations were bold and bright and perfectly complimented Ben Brooks’ writing making this book both engaging and visually thrilling.

Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different by Ben Brooks is a must-have for all young readers.

Bedtime Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in the Bedtime Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, let’s jump straight in:

A BOOK THAT KEPT YOU UP ALL NIGHT READING

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU SCARED TO SLEEP

Zealot: A Book About Cults by Jo Thornely

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU GO TO SLEEP

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

A BOOK THAT LEFT YOU TOSSING AND TURNING ALL NIGHT IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS RELEASE

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

A BOOK THAT HAS YOUR DREAM BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

A BOOK THAT WOULD BE YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE TO LIVE IN

Tracy by Gary McKay

A BOOK COVER THAT REMINDS YOU OF NIGHTTIME

The Fledgling Handbook 101by P.C. Cast 

A BOOK THAT HAS A NIGHTMARISH CLIFFHANGER

The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper by Maxim Jakubowski 

A BOOK THAT YOU ACTUALLY DREAMED ABOUT

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

A BOOK MONSTER THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO FIND UNDER YOUR BED

Boggart – The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling

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Well, that’s it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual, hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading… 

~>GEM<~

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer

‘Berlin, 1934. Sofie Rhodes is the aristocratic wife of a scientist whose post-WWI fortunes change for the better when her husband, Jurgen, is recruited for Hitler’s new rocket project. But too late they realise the Nazis’ plans to weaponise Jurgen’s technology as they begin to wage war against the rest of Europe.

Alabama, 1949 Jurgen is one of hundreds of Nazi scientists offered pardons and taken to the US to work for the CIA’s fledgling space program. Sofie, now the mother of four, misses Germany terribly and struggles to fit in among the other NASA wives.

When news about the Rhodes family’s affiliation with the Nazi party spreads, idle gossip turns to bitter rage, and the act of violence that results will tear apart a community and a family before the truth is finally revealed – but is it murder, revenge or justice?’

This book was fantastic.

I am a massive fan of Kelly Rimmer so I went into this book with high hopes. I am very happy to say this book not only lived up to my high expectations, it well and truly surpassed them.

As with all of Kelly Rimmer’s novels The German Wife is both compelling and exceptionally emotional. It didn’t matter if you were reading the chapters set during the great depression in America or the scenes set in Nazi Germany; the way in which Kelly Rimmer captured the emotions of her characters was truly beautiful.

One of the most impressive elements of this was the fact that the characters were deeply flawed yet not unlikeable. The situations and choices the characters made were at times difficult to understand but not once did this make me not sympathize with or dislike a character.

Kelly Rimmer has done a truly masterful job with the writing in this book. Not only was it emotional and fast-paced it was really thoughtful. her ability to create a situation and character but allow the reader to make up their own mind about how to feel about the decisions that character makes is really powerful and made for a truly engaging reading experience.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I loved every second of it and I cannot wait to see what Kelly Rimmer comes out with next.

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer is a must-read for everyone.